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Thanks Herbert

I am more inclined towards the systematic, geometrical / analytical
approach. I am mainly interested in visual representations of how the
projection is created (cone, cylinder etc. and where he 'light' is coming
from) and what the resulting graticule looks like. Also, hw suitabe it is
for various types f navigation and what would be the appearence of great
circles, small circles and Rhumb lines.

I find books with sharp, coloured graphics and clear layout much easier to
read. Some very good text books on vatious subjects are let down by poor or
non-existent graphics and by indifferent layout.

In the meanwhile I found what appears to be a good treatment of the subjects
in the following website of Mr. Furuti.

http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/Normal/TOC/cartTOC.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Herbert Prinz 
To: 
Sent: 10 April 2005 01:23
Subject: Re: Map Projections


> Zvi Doron wrote:
>
> >Looking for a recommendation regarding a good book on map projections - a
> >navigational slant would be good, as well as clear graphics. Any ideas?
> >
> >
> >
> Much depends on whether you are looking for a historical or a systematic
> approach toward the subject; and in the latter case, just how
> mathematical you want to get. Going into the middle, I would say
>
> John B. Snyder, "Flattening the Earth", UCP 1997, is an excellent choice.
>
> Herbert Prinz
>
> P.S.
>
> The more technical books that I own are out of print now, so I will
> leave it to our youngest list member to comment on available ones.
> (Would Snyder's "Map Projections: A reference Manual" be a good choice?)
> There can be a great difference in how an author treats the subject. It
> matters whether you prefer a geometrical or analytical, a theoretical or
> numerical treatment, etc.
>
> Lloyd A. Brown, "The Story of Maps", 1949, is a good historical survey
> of map making in general, however, it does not particularly focus on
> projections and certainly does not go into their mathematical details. I
> mention it anyway, because it has enough of a navigational slant. There
> is a chapter on "Charts and the Haven-Finding Art",  one on "Latitude"
> and one on "Longitude". Besides, is a classic, and the Dover reprint is
> so cheap that there is no excuse not to have it on the book shelf.
>
> As one would expect, there are several specialized treatises on Mercator
> and/or his projection. It so happens that I just started reading  Mark
> Monmonier, "Rhumb Lines and Map Wars. A Social History of the Mercator
> Projection",  UCP, 2004.
>
> The phrase "map wars" is an allusion to the controversy around the
> Peters projection. ("Mercator maps lie.", "They make the size of the
> third world look too small", etc.) However, the book is not just a
> polemic against Peters. The first few chapters which I have read so far
> deal with the early history of the Mercator projection. They are full of
> historical details and make very interesting reading. As the title says,
> this is not a technical, but a sociological investigation. The author
> explains just enough geometry so that the general reader can follow the
> argument.

   

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